Buttermilk challenge

Lok Sabha member Ch Malla Reddy wanted to know if the government had examined the suggestions to provide buttermilk as part of the Mid Day Meal Scheme to school students.

In a written reply, Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani said, "The idea of distributing buttermilk to all schools under the Mid Day Meal Scheme was examined by the ministry but was not found feasible, as it was felt that the provision of (distributing) buttermilk uniformly to all schools across the country presented several challenges in terms of logistics, food safety and the additional funds required." She, however, said that states were free to add additional items to the menu from their own resources.